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The importance of presentation style:

In a presentation, how you present the text/data is crucial. The initial stage involves collecting essential information. Once this is done, the second stage involves preparing the content for the PowerPoint presentation. When assigned with the task of preparing a presentation, here is what I do:

Hold a briefing meeting with the subject matter experts (SMEs):

At this stage, I already have the presentation objective and the background information on the content providers. I schedule a briefing meeting with them and request them to share the materials after the meeting. During the meeting, they explain and provide reference materials to be used.

Create the first draft:

After the meeting, I meticulously go through the materials and develop a detailed storyline in a word format. At this stage, I don’t worry about the presentation design. The focus is to ensure a comprehensive narrative. Additionally, I conduct research on the topic and integrate it into the story.

Have a second discussion with the SME:

I arrange another session with the content provider (SME) and share the narrative with them. We scrutinize and discuss each line, refining the narrative for a clear and concise message. I ask relevant questions to ensure accuracy, technical correctness, and alignment with industry standards.

Organize the narrative:

I organize the narrative in a coherent and connected manner, ensuring that the message flows seamlessly. The organization follows a basic structure- setting expectations with the audience (agenda), introduction, body, conclusion/recommendation, annexure, next steps, and contact details. While organizing the content, I do not concern myself with assigning specific text to each slide, but rather create chunks of content that form the storyline. For instance, the introduction may span multiple slides depending on the desired visual representation.

Finalizing the narrative typically requires two to three sessions, but it is an essential task before proceeding to the design stage. The output will initially be long, resembling a research paper or speech, and will not be directly transferred to the presentation slides. However, having this narrative serves as a solid foundation, providing notes and reference material for the presenter, salespeople, and other stakeholders.

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Ihab Salloum